Introduction

The combined effects of human and natural pressures lead to the
depletion of natural vegetation and drastic decline in dryland productivity. Those
are eventually resulting in ecological refugees, regional starvation,
desertification processes and introduction of exotic/alien species. It has been
an issue for more than two decades. Prosopis
juliflora (SW.) DC (exotic plant species), particularly, nowadays is a
paradox in Afar Region, among the agropastoralists, pastoralists, mechanized
farmland owners, and ecologists. Some groups of people are needy for the
survival of the species whereas other parts are desperately looking for systems
that able to eradicate the species from the area. It is a multipurpose
tree/shrub that is used for feed of livestock, shade, windbreak, charcoal, live
fence, and firewood as well as house construction (Mohamed, 1997; Hailu, 2002).
However, it is jeopardizing the daily activities of the nomadic pastoralist and
agriculturalists, on the other hand. It invades the farmlands, rangelands,
irrigation canals, narrowing roads (Kassahun, 1999; Hailu, 2002), and the spine
attacks the livestock when they collect the pods. Moreover, agro-pastoralists
claim that its inaccessible nature of the species enforces us to migrate to
other non-invaded areas though nomadic pastoralists and other people in the
area, especially urban dwellers and livestock herds are deriving multipurpose
advantages from the species. These controversial issues are then derived me to
the Afar Region to have current idea about this species. The fieldwork was
conducted in December 2003 that to assess the status of the species, both
advantage and disadvantage of the species.

Methods

In order to assess the status of Prosopis
in Afar Region, field survey, and discussions with randomly selected
individuals and groups, personal observations and written literatures were
considered. The responses were summarized systematically to handle the factors
in a scientific way.

Results and Discussions

Prosopis juliflora is stretched and covered large amount of areas unlike the previous
reports. It is now invading Zone 1 and 3 of Afar Region (from Metehara of east
Shewa to Ayssayita and Dubti, which covers in the highway of 400 kms from its
origin, Melkaworer). According to the current survey, the species is dispersed
due to the following factors: (1) following Awash
River with the rainy and seasonal floods,
(2) livestock and wildlife routes (mobility routes) through their droppings,
(3) highway through different agents, (4) following irrigation canals and dry
weather roads. Therefore, all such kinds of exposed areas are invaded by this
species and so that Afar people are suffering from the effect of this species
since 1980 (Hailu, 2002).

Afar people are suffering from not only from the effect of Prosopis but also from the frequent
raids of their neighboring Issa-Somali east and northeast, Kereyu and Ittu
Oromos south and southwest, Argoba west and northwest due to their territories
and pasturelands, and Prosopis in the
middle of their main settlement areas. However, during the last year drought
season, for example, the only source of feed for livestock was this species
(personal communication), among other uses. On top of that, if one crosses the
Middle Awash area one can observe the greenness of the area that is due to Prosopis, which changes the harsh
conditions of microclimate to be suitable for the inhabitants than the previous
days. Interestingly, nomadic pastoralists were also more or less depending on
the pods of Prosopis for their
livestock feed every drought seasons.

Some respondents have said that this species has come to forgive us
from this harsh environment while other respondents told me that if it
surrounds our homesteads we would be enforced to migrate other new site for our
camping. This group concluded that this species is “YeAlah Kuta New” (meaning
the punishment of Alah/God). However, even pastoralists need the presence of
matured tree/shrub because it is very important to tolerate sunrays, soil
erosion, windstorm, salt reclamation, etc, and some people say that this
species is the "paradise of the desert". Thus, it is controversial.

Recommendation Forwarded

It is still paradoxical that Prosopis
is advantageous and disadvantageous for the local people. Some groups of the
society are in needy of it while others are looking for techniques/systems to
eradicate it from their surrounding particularly at the seedling stages but
others need it for different purposes at the matured stages. Therefore, it
invites further studies to adjust the pros and cons of the species to control
and eradicate (if possible) from where it is undesirable, and to derive the
services it gives where it is desirable at arid environments where there is no
other options. Moreover, this plant may be the one, which may satisfy Agenda 21 in combating desertification,
CO2 sequestration and ecological stabilization of the desert areas,
micro and macroclimate change mitigation, food security problem alleviation,
and alternative energy supplies/sources of the rural residents of the country.
Therefore, the potentially deleterious effects; and the valuable prospect of
exotic species like Prosopis in Ethiopia
or as a whole in tropics should be the subjects for more research efforts,
management systems and debates among researchers, governmental and
non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders.